Curl movement question

[aerojunkie]

Hello tbn, first post here. I bought a 2538 that has been a joy to use but I have also found a quirk I would love to tinker with. My dealer gave me a set of pallet forks when I bought the tractor a couple weeks ago and when its just the bare forks or very light loads the curl back function is very rough and hard to make a smooth operation. I can lower them down and when trying to curl them back I slowly move the lever left but nothing happens until i get a good distance over then its wide open speed and will catapult something light on the forks almost off of them. Talked to my dealer and he said he said he didnt think there was anything to adjust in there. So Im asking here because I have not been able to find anything on the net. Thank you for any and all advice.

 

[aerojunkie]

Figured out what to do about it, the loader is just very touchy with lighter loads. May make a longer control lever to smooth that out and give it some finer control.

 

[redman135]

From your description the controls are in need of adjustment. You need be able to creep the curl dead slow for delicate work.

 

[aerojunkie]

From your description the controls are in need of adjustment. You need be able to creep the curl dead slow for delicate work.

I have been trying to research adjustments but havent found anything yet. Any suggestions on how to adjust it? From what I have gathered I'm thinking a check valve could be causing it, does that sound right?

 

[alafarm]

I have the same problem. The bucket does the same thing, but you don't notice it as much as with the long forks. I was moving logs today and when I would curl, it would flip a 600lb log almost off the forks! I have a real problem curling slowly with the bucket also. My curl has worked jerky ever since I have had my 5035. I ask about it when I had it at dealer having some work done and they said, "did not seem to be a problem"?

 

[aerojunkie]

I have the same problem. The bucket does the same thing, but you don't notice it as much as with the long forks. I was moving logs today and when I would curl, it would flip a 600lb log almost off the forks! I have a real problem curling slowly with the bucket also. My curl has worked jerky ever since I have had my 5035. I ask about it when I had it at dealer having some work done and they said, "did not seem to be a problem"?

Same problem and is most noticeable with the forks just like you. I have played around inside the loader valve and it seems like the check valve is sticking after a short use causing it to take a lot of extra pressure to make it open. After taking it apart it seemed to work prefect for a few minutes, then went back to the same catapult syndrome it had before.

 

[bhstovall]

I too have an issue with my loader on my 2565. The bucket curl flops around almost like the cylinders are leaking down, but there's no leak anywhere to be found. If I pick up a load of gravel, dump it, then try to back-drag it to level it out the bucket will just ride on top of the pile unless I run it through several curl-uncurl cycles first. If I "prime" it a few times it holds ok. The dealer said it is the nature of the beast... I say Bovine Scatology! I think there is a check valve sticking somewhere! Opinions?

 

[clevalley]

I too have an issue with my loader on my 2565. The bucket curl flops around almost like the cylinders are leaking down, but there's no leak anywhere to be found. If I pick up a load of gravel, dump it, then try to back-drag it to level it out the bucket will just ride on top of the pile unless I run it through several curl-uncurl cycles first. If I "prime" it a few times it holds ok. The dealer said it is the nature of the beast... I say Bovine Scatology! I think there is a check valve sticking somewhere! Opinions?

I call BS on that as well. My 2555 bucket curl stays where I put it, even for a back drag. I would think a check valve or something wonky in the loader valving.

 

[clevalley]

Hello tbn, first post here. I bought a 2538 that has been a joy to use but I have also found a quirk I would love to tinker with. My dealer gave me a set of pallet forks when I bought the tractor a couple weeks ago and when its just the bare forks or very light loads the curl back function is very rough and hard to make a smooth operation. I can lower them down and when trying to curl them back I slowly move the lever left but nothing happens until i get a good distance over then its wide open speed and will catapult something light on the forks almost off of them. Talked to my dealer and he said he said he didnt think there was anything to adjust in there. So Im asking here because I have not been able to find anything on the net. Thank you for any and all advice.

At first it took some getting use to the 2555 curl, it was really sensitive. After a while I learned how to feather it, there is not a lot of room for error.

 

[dickfoster]

I too have an issue with my loader on my 2565. The bucket curl flops around almost like the cylinders are leaking down, but there's no leak anywhere to be found. If I pick up a load of gravel, dump it, then try to back-drag it to level it out the bucket will just ride on top of the pile unless I run it through several curl-uncurl cycles first. If I "prime" it a few times it holds ok. The dealer said it is the nature of the beast... I say Bovine Scatology! I think there is a check valve sticking somewhere! Opinions?

That sounds like you have it in float. Just let the handle spring back to center after you lower the bucket, don't push the handle all the way forward as that is the float position where gravity alone holds the bucket down.

 

[Neversosure]

This will explain "floppy bucket", my 2538 is real touchy. When I want to "back drag" I just curl the bucket all the way down and hold it there until it hits the "relief" (you will hear your engine change pitch when it hits). then I just roll the bucket back to where I want it for my "back drag".

Loader Valve REGEN Feature Explained

 

[dickfoster]

This will explain "floppy bucket", my 2538 is real touchy. When I want to "back drag" I just curl the bucket all the way down and hold it there until it hits the "relief" (you will hear your engine change pitch when it hits). then I just roll the bucket back to where I want it for my "back drag".

Loader Valve REGEN Feature Explained

You're not supposed to back drag with more than about 15 degrees of angle on the bucket. So says KMW and they make a heap of loaders, including mine among others.

 

[aerojunkie]

Well I may have figured something out on the issue of the erratic bucket curl. I removed the check valve and out of curiosity tried the loader without it just for my own information. It was a LOT smoother than before but hard to control so I knew I had to be on the right track. When I went to put it back in I discovered the problem, quite a few metal shavings in there floating around.....I guess causing it to stick and then causing the sudden movements. I cleaned out everything I could possible wipe out and after putting it back together it made a huge difference in how smooth it worked. I'm going to run it and do that again a few more times and try to get even more out, should also get better soon when I do the 50hr service.

I have also experienced the "floppy bucket" that I have seen referenced and it was a pain at first but now I have learned to use it and work around it. Its like having a float function on the curl cylinder if you lower the arms and then lay bucket flat on the ground, it will follow the ground contour and not dig in like a regular float setting where the curl is locked. I can push harder into a pile of dirt with the loader arms locked and bucket loose than the when the arms are loose and bucket locked. The front end stays on the ground better with the loader arms locked which keeps the steering working and with 4wd engaged really pushes the bucket along to scoop up stuff, but since the bucket is loose it wont dig in like it normally would if the ground isnt flat.

Mahindra Tractor Failures - YouTube

Here is a video I found of the "floppy bucket", I hope this link doesnt violate a forum rule but I thought this would help explain what actually happens. Its not a common thing from what I have read and even the delivery guy from the dealership had never seen it till I showed him, even after delivering tractors for a couple years. I talked to my dealer about it and also doing a load test shortly after buying the tractor, they never argued just sent that same delivery fella to pick it up and then they went through it. He asked me several questions on what all I wanted them to check but was stumped when I showed him the floppy bucket. When he returned with the tractor later on he went through some things with me on the tractor and said he learned something new after talking with the mechanic about it.

Long post and yes I sidetracked a bit on the floppy bucket, just trying to share what I have learned. Seems I'm not the only one that has these quirks with this tractor.

 

[KentC]

I too have an issue with my loader on my 2565. The bucket curl flops around almost like the cylinders are leaking down, but there's no leak anywhere to be found. If I pick up a load of gravel, dump it, then try to back-drag it to level it out the bucket will just ride on top of the pile unless I run it through several curl-uncurl cycles first. If I "prime" it a few times it holds ok. The dealer said it is the nature of the beast... I say Bovine Scatology! I think there is a check valve sticking somewhere! Opinions?

I am having the same problem with my New Holland Workmaster 50. Sometimes on the downward curl, the bucket just stalls and either won't move or moves really slow. Intermittent problem. When the problem occurs, on back-drag, the bucket acts like it is in float mode. To my knowledge the curl does not have a float mode. The dealer cannot get the tractor to act up when he has it. The problem started with only about 30 hours on the tractor.